Means for reclaiming overflowed lands



(No Model.)

T, F. WURTS.

MEANS FOR RE'GLAIMINQ' OVERFLOWED LANDS. No. 456,749.

Patented July 28, 1891.

FIG/.1.

111: mm wanna 1:42., mm-u'mo, WASHINGTON, n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE F. lVURTS, OF BRIDGETON, NEXV JERSEY.

MEANS FOR RECLAIMING OVERFLOWED LAN DS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,749, dated July 28, 1891.

Application filed December 27, 1889. $erial No. 335,142. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE F. WURTs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeton, New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Processes of Reclaiming Overflowed Lands, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to reclaim land overfiowed by the sea or by the waters of bays and rivers in which there is sufficient ebb and fioW of the tide to carry my process into effect.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the shore, showing the boxing or curb. Fig. 2 is an edge View of a portion of the boxing. Fig. 3 is a face view illustrating one form of construction which may be used in carrying out my invention.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, A are a series of piles, which maybe braced in any manner, so to form sufficient resistance to the power of water. Secured to these piles in the pres-. ent instance are plates B, blocks I) being placed between the plates and the piles, so as to form a space into which the ends of the cross-bar D D may rest, the cross-bar D being at an angle, so that the bar of the next section can rest in the same cavity. In the present instance to the cross-bars are secured vertical planks E, which extend acertain distance into the ground, as shown in the drawings, and extend slightly above low-water mark. The three sides W, W, and W of the box are thus planked to a point above the lowwatermark, butnot to the high-water mark, so that when the tide rises and overflows the crib thus formed the under current will be ponded,

retaining the same, which is carried over the sheathing, which in time will assume the same level as the top of the sheathing. Another row of planks is then added to form a higher sheathing back of which the earth will collect. Additional sheathing is placed upon the crib until the high-water mark is reached, and the space inclosed by the crib will be filled with earth and thus reclaimed.

The box may be formed in sections by having suitable transverse partitions V, as shown, and the box, instead of being quadrangular in shape, may be in the form of a segment of a circle or V-shaped, depending altogether upon the position of the land to be recovered and the flow of the sea; and other forms of piling and sheathing maybe used in carrying out the process without departing from my invention.

I claim as my invention- The herein-described means for reclaiming landfrom the sea, consisting of a box orboxes inclosing an area washed by the surf and of a height above low-water mark and below high-water mark and operating to retain the earth washed thereover by the surf, and sheathing to be applied upon said box or boxes to extend their height upward as the interior land surface rises, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THEODORE F. IVURTS.

Witnesses:

H. F. REARDON, HENRY HOWSON. 

